Accounting system



w. PETERS ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Filed June 12, 1925 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. PETERS, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOP., TO CHARLES A. BERGSTEN, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, AND B. E. BRAMBLE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.

Application filed .Tune 12, 1925. Serial No. 36,600.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. PETERS, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Peoria, Illinois, have invented the new and useful Improvement in Accounting Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to accounting sys-.

tems and apparatus for carrying out the same, and more particularly to printing and registering devices therefor.

In certain kinds of accounting it frequently happens that bills or similar records must be made out in large numberr. In such cases it is often true that among such a large number there are a great many duplicates. There may, in fact, be so many sheets requiring entries, that it will be convenient to sort the sheets, placing all those requiring the same entries together and then making the entries on each such group separately. In accounting systems of this kind it is often convenient to have a series of rubber stamps, each stamp representing a certain charge or similar class of account, so that the entries may be made accurately and rapidly by stamping. These stamps may bear not only an original charge but also a discount and the net charge, so that a plurality of entries may be made simultaneously. The type are arranged on the stamps so as to register with the rulings of the sheets upon which the entries are to be made so that each item may be stamped in its own column according to such ruling.

Where such groups of identical accounts occur it is often convenient to total such accounts by simply counting the number of sheets of each class and then simply multiplying that number by the amount of the bill stamped thereon. Such counting may be done very conveniently by means of automatic registers on the various stamps arranged to be operated upon performance of the stamping operation.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide means by which a sheet may be stamped quickly and accurately and in the proper place on the sheet, and whereby a record of the number of sheets stamped may be made automatically by simply performing the stamping operation.

Another object is to provide improved means for guiding the stamp during the stamping operation.

In carrying out such a system it frequently happens that several identical entries must be made on the same sheet. Such entries may, of course, be made by simply repeating the stamping operation after shifting the sheet. In such a case, however, it is not desirable that the recording or registering operation be repeated with every stamping operation.

Another object of this invention, therefore, is to provide such a stamping device in which repeated stamping operations may be performed but in which registration thereof will take place only at one of these operations.

Further objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a perspective view of a stamping device embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the registering mechanism in a position for registering; l'

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the position of this mechanisml after the registering operation; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View of the stamped sheet.

Referring to the accompanying drawing l designates a base upon which the sheet 2 to be stamped may be placed The base l may be provided with a rail 3 and an index a for positioning the sheet. The sheet is simply placed with its left hand edge against the rail 3 and the index 4 registering with some appropriate ruled line on the sheet. The ruling of the sheet is so arranged that with such adjustment the stamped entry will come in the proper columns.

Mounted on the base l and outside of the rail 3 is a bracket 5 to which is pivoted at 6 an arm 7. Mounted between the bracket- 5 and the arm 7 .is a compression spring S retained in place by suitable lugs 9 on the bracket and the arm. At the end of the arm 7 there is arranged a socket 10, tapering in form, and adapted to receive and guide a stamp 11 provided with suitable type 12.

Mounted on the stamp l1 and providing a manipulative handle therefor is an automatic register oi counter 18. The counter 18 may be provided with iianges 1% overhanging the edges of the stamp 11 and adapted to rest upon the rim or" the socket 10 when the stamp is placed therein. These flanges serve to keep the stamp from passing clear through the socket.

Pivoted at 15 on the arm 7 is a rocker plate 16 provided with a cam shaped edge 17, adapted for engagement with the base 1 or the sheet thereon so as to rock the plate 16 when the arm 7 is depressed to bring the stamp down upon the sheet. rIhe plate 1G is provided at its upper end with an operating iinger 18 which normally stands to the right7 Figuie 2, of a downwardly )rejecting arm of the star wheel 19 which torms part ot the counter 13. ljivoted at 2O on the plate 1G is a latch plate 21. The linger 18 projects through a slot in the upper part of the arm 7 and is movable along said slot for operating the counter. The latch plate 21 is provided with an extension 28 which projects in iront of the iinger 18 and has a shoulder 21 which norinaily stands before the end of the slot so as to prevent movement of the iinger 18. The plate 21 is provided with a weighted tail adapted to maintain the plate in normal position as shown in Figure 2.

In the operation of this device, atter properly placing the sheet 2, the stamp 11 inserted in the socket 10. l.Vhcn the operator presses downwardlyupon the counter 18 the downwardly extending arm of the star wheel 19 bears against the extension 23 so as to rock the plate 21 on its pivot 20. This disengages the shoulder 24 from the end of the slot Q2 so as to permit movement of the iinger 18. Further pressure upon the counter willnow rock the arm 7 upon its pivot 6 so as to bring` the stamp down upon the sheet. Buring this movement the cam edge 17 of the plate 16 engages the sheet or the base and causes the plate 16 to rock on its pivot 15, thereby swinging the iinger 18 to the lett Figure 2. During this movement the linger 18 engages the arm of the star wheel 19 and turns that wheel so as to register the stamping operation on a suitable dial 26. The parts are now in the position shown in Figure 8, the star wheel having moved one notch. When the pressure on the counter is now released the arm 7 will rise to its normal position but the finger 18 is prevented by contact withithe downwardly extending arm oi the star wheel from returning` to its normal position. in other words the fing/c1218 remains on the left hand side, Figures 9. and 8 ot the lower arm ot the star wheel. Subsequent stamping operations may now be performed without removing the stamp 11 from the. guide 10, and such operations will no he recorded on the diall As soon as tir stamp is disengaged from the socket the inger 18 and the latch 2?) are permitted to return to their normal positions under the influence ot the weight 25. The device is now ready for another recording operation.

It will be seen that this invention provides a convenient mechanism tor stamping operations which are to berecorded. The guide holds the stamp clear ot the sheet and in such a position that when depressed it will print the entry accurately in the desired place on the sheet. rhe recording mechanism acts to make a record oit the iii-st stamping operation only, subsequent operations not being recorded until the stamp is again diseigazrjed irom the guide so as to permit the operating iiiger to return to its normal position. After such disengagement the saine or another stamp may be reengaged with the device and another operation recorded.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details o construction without departing from the spirit oi" this invention; it is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A device for stamping a sheet, coniprising, a stamp, a guide adapted to position said stamp clear ot the sheet and to guide the saine to stamp the sheet, a register on said stamp, means for operating said stampto stamp the sheet, and means for operating said register upon stamping the sheet.

Q'A device for stamping a sheet, comprising, a stamp, a guide adapted to position said stamp and to guide the same for stamping the sheet, a register on -said stamp, and means operating said register upon stainping the sheet adapted to prevent reregistration.

8. A device tor stamping a sheet, comprising, a stamp, a guide adapted to position said stamp and to guide the saine for stamping the sheet, a register on said stamp, and means normally set to opera-te said register upon stamping the sheet adapted'to be unset upon operation thereof.

f1. A device for stamping a sheet, comp rising, a. stamp, a guide adapted to position said stamp and to guide the saine for stamping the sheet, a register on said stamp, and means operating said register upon stamping the sheet adapted to prevent reregistration until said stamp is re-eiigaged with said guide.

5. A device :for stamping a sheet, comprising, a stamp, a guide adapted to position said stamp and to `guide the saine for stamping the sheet, a register on said stamp, and means normally set to operate said register upon stamping the sheet adapted to be Cil ' set upon dis-engagement of said stamp with y said guide.

unset upon operation thereof and to be re- 6. A device for stamping a sheet, comprising, a stamp, a guide adapted to position said stamp and to guide the same for stamping the sheet, a register on said stamp, and means operating said register upon stamping the sheet including an operating .finger and a catch controlling said finger adaptedeto be released upon engagement of said stamp with said guide.

7. A device for stamping a sheet, comprisi-ng a stamp, a guide adapted to position said stamp and to guide the same Jfor stampling the sheet, a register on said stamp, and means operating said register upon stamping the sheet including an operating finger and a catch controlling said finger adapted to be released by said register.

8. A device for stamping a sheet, comprising, a stamp, a guide adapted to position said stamp and to guide the same for stamping the sheet, a register on said stamp,

and means operating said register upon stampin the sheet including an operating finger a apted upon engagement with the sheet to operate said register, and a catch controlling said finger.

9. A device for stamping a sheet, comprising, a stamp, a guide adapted to position said stam and to guidek the same for stamping the s eet, a register on said stamp, and means operating said register upon stamping the sheet including an operating finger adapted upon engagement with the sheet to operate said registerand a catch controlling said finger adapted to be released upon engagement with the sheet to operate said register.

10. A device of the character described, comprising, a guide, means for mounting said guide for movement towards the surface to be stamped, and a stamp adapted to be positioned by said guide.

l1. A device of the character described, comprising, a guide, means for mounting said guide for movement towards the surface to'be stamped, a stamp adapted to be positioned by said guide and a register on said stamp adapted for actuation upon movement of said guide.

12. A device of the character described, comp-rising, a guide, a stamp adapted to be positioned by said guide, a register 0n said stamp adapted for actuation upon positioning of said stamp, and means for prevent- 'ing reactuation of said register.

13. A device of the character described, comprising, a guide, a stamp adapted to be positioned by said guide, a register on said stamp adapted for actuation upon positioning of said stamp, and means for preventing reactuation of said register until said stamp is again repositioned. Y

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature this 26th da'y of May, 1925.

WILLIAM G. PETERS. 

